1525 Storytelling Through The Archive: Portfolio Building Workshop
As part of ongoing upskilling for Young People, Cor Creative visited Nottingham Contemporary to deliver a collaborative peer-to-peer workshop focused on portfolio building and the concept of personal archives for our 1525 Collective members.
Facilitated by Amira Dabboussi and Maya King Dabbs, the session provided a cosy yet thought-provoking environment where we took a look at different types of portfolios and explored a resource on how to construct one in the context of your own practice. Central to our discussions was the concept of storytelling and the use of archival materials to reimagine and reconstruct histories.
One of the core questions we explored was, “What is an archive, and how can it inform our practices?” This inquiry led participants to consider how creating a personal archive could not only be professionally documented but also become a meaningful addition to their portfolios.
Participants were asked to bring a variety of materials to the session—ranging from first-hand and second-hand photography, drawings, prints, physical ephemera, to handwritten texts and spoken stories. These items could be used in part of the session, where we collectively worked on assembling a combined personal archive.
As the session progressed, our discussions deepened, revealing a strong connection between portfolio building and personal archives. The conversation naturally expanded to include broader questions about the role of archives in creative practice and the anxieties associated with self-centredness in preserving one’s work. This reflection resonated with many participants, who expressed concerns about who holds the power in archiving: protecting, preserving, and writing histories—a topic critically relevant in both museum practices and the arts more broadly.
The uncertainty surrounding how to archive and protect one’s work emerged as a theme, reflecting not just personal challenges but also broader cultural concerns about ownership, memory, and legacy in the arts.
The workshop with Cor Creative left us with a renewed curiosity about the role of personal archives in creative practices and sparked new discussions about the anxieties and responsibilities involved in preserving your artistic legacy.
Biography
Cor creative is a student-led learning initiative unaffiliated with any institution. They increase accessibility into the arts through peer-mentoring and different forms of engagement with youth across London.
They have been working to expand their work beyond London, to reach wider youth audiences who feel unsupported in their creative ambitions - this being one of their founding goals.
Their work has been hosted by Whitechapel Gallery, Rich Mix, Freelands Foundation, House of Annetta, Bold Tendencies, October Gallery and The RA. Our team is composed of current students and recent graduates from London's leading art schools including: UAL (Wimbledon, London College of Fashion, St Martins, Camberwell), UCL (The Bartlett, The Slade), Goldsmiths, Uni of Westminster, Uni of Greenwich. They have delivered set curriculums of weekly workshops as well as freelance workshops between personal studies. You can find more on their Instagram @cor__creative.